HB 3579

relating to eliminating the requirement for personal skills
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 29.906, Education Code,
Sec. 29.906.  CHARACTER TRAITS [AND PERSONAL SKILLS]
SECTION 2.  Sections 29.906(a), (b), and (c), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a)  The State Board of Education shall integrate positive
character traits [and personal skills] into the essential knowledge
and skills adopted for kindergarten through grade 12, as
(b)  The State Board of Education must include the following
positive character traits [and personal skills]:
(2)  trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability,
(5)  responsibility, including accountability,
diligence, perseverance, [self-management skills,] and
(6)  fairness, including justice and freedom from
(7)  caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion,
consideration, patience, generosity, and charity[, and
(8)  good citizenship, including patriotism, concern
for the common good and the community, [responsible decision-making
skills,] and respect for authority and the law;
(c)  Each school district and open-enrollment charter school
must adopt a character education program that includes the positive
character traits [and personal skills] listed in Subsection (b).
In developing or selecting a character education program under this
section, a school district shall consult with a committee selected
by the district that consists of:
(1)  parents of district students;
(3)  other members of the community, including
SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.